A Kenyan pesticide lawsuit has drawn 87 people seeking to join, The Guardian reported, bringing alleged health costs of horticultural work before a court that has not determined what caused their illnesses.
The African Centre for Corrective & Preventive Action and lawyer Kelvin Mugambi Kubai filed the case against agrochemical companies and Kenyan authorities in 2022. In a Sept. 18, 2025, ruling, Kenya’s Environment and Land Court allowed the petitioners to publish a notice inviting applications from people alleging harm from 11 pesticide ingredients. The ruling addressed who could seek to join the case, not what caused any illness.
The Guardian said the applicants include former farm workers from Timau, where horticultural farms have employed thousands of residents. Reuben Muriki, 30, stopped spraying pesticides at a flower farm after developing health problems, the outlet reported. He now needs help walking and receives care from his mother, Margaret Mwanjaro, who also worked on a horticultural farm. They suspect pesticide exposure harmed them.
Kubai told The Guardian that tests of all 87 applicants found paraquat and glyphosate above permissible levels. The reported results do not establish that workplace exposure caused their illnesses.
In an April 2026 report, Greenpeace Africa classified 67 of the 141 pesticide active ingredients registered in Kenya in 2025, or 48%, as highly hazardous. It said 66 of the ingredients, or 47%, were banned in Europe.
The Guardian described farm jobs as an economic benefit for Timau, while illness, missed work and caregiving have imposed costs on families. Growers seek higher yields and produce quality for local and export markets, the outlet reported.
Syngenta said its products sold in Kenya meet local regulatory standards and are safe when used as their labels direct. Bayer said following label instructions makes its products safe for people and the environment. Kenya’s Pest Control Products Board declined to comment because of the litigation.
The court’s next decision is whether the 87 applicants can join the case. The Guardian reported that a ruling is expected in early 2027.
